Caesars Windsor, one of Ontario’s leading casino resorts, was forced to shut down after workers went on strike last week, and while the closures undoubtedly hurt the resort’s earnings, it looks set to benefit its rivals. While many analysts have predicted that Detroit’s gambling industry may win big due to the strike, it is Gateway Casino that sees an immediate effect on canceled reservations and postponed performances.
As one of Canada’s largest gambling companies, Gateway Casino and Entertainment operate several facilities relatively close to Windsor.Company spokesman Rob Mitchell said the casinos were reporting increased traffic as a result of the Caesars Windsor strike. According to him, regular customers there see Gateway’s properties as an alternative because they are in the same area and offer similar amenities and entertainment options. The vitality of the business was particularly felt at the location of the Gateway Casino in Point Edward and Dresden, near Chatham, in southwestern Ontario, Mitchell explains. 슬롯
With a modern casino, two hotel towers, and a 5,000-seat event center, the large resort Caesars Windsor is run by the American company Caesars Entertainment. The casino closed on April 6, when workers decided to go on strike over wages. The two sides have been negotiating since February but have not reached an agreement on a new collective contract. The possibility of a strike had been looming since March, but last week the union, representing approximately 2,300 Caesars Windsor employees at Unipo Local 444, agreed on the proposed deal. But the workers rejected the casino’s offer and decided to hit the picket line.
As a result of the strike, the resort had to cancel hotel reservations for the rest of April and even kick out customers. The casino was closed and all concerts and performances at the Colosseum were postponed until the dispute was resolved and work resumed. Since the Detroit River is the only one that separates Windsor, Ontario from Detroit, Michigan, the closure was expected to be a boost to Detroit’s casinos. The three casinos on the American side, MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino, and Greaktown Casino, are all located in downtown Detroit, just one or two miles from the border.
possible consequences of continuing strike
These three casinos in Detroit could see significant business growth, especially if the strike continues for a long time. It’s been like that before. Caesars Windsor’s last strike the casino resort was closed for 42 days. Hundreds of employees lost their jobs, and profits declined as operations were canceled. Eventually, many gamblers moved to Detroit casinos. If history repeats itself, this could cause long-term damage to Caesars Windsor and increase profits for Detroit’s gambling industry, but another scenario is already unfolding.
Major Canadian players are enjoying the benefits of gateway casinos and entertainment, which are casino closures. Although the two gateway casinos near Windsor are relatively small, the number of customers is already soaring. One of them, Gateway Casino Dresden, is a racetrack with a gaming space featuring 148 slot machines. On the other hand, Gateway Casino Point Edward is a larger scale offering 450 slot machines and 20 table games. It is currently under renovation, including an extension of the game offering. According to Mitchell, all of this is positive for Gateway because the brand is now gaining more recognition. But it remains to be seen whether Caesars Windsor’s strike will bring financial benefits to its competitors.